By Chinese Embassy in Liberia

(08/09/11)

Beijing Olympic Games is a success to the whole world and Africa is also benefiting from it. That was the words of H.E. Mr. Zhou Yuxiao, Chinese Ambassador to Liberia when he gave an interview to Mr. Jallah Grayfield from Radio Veritas.

According to the ambassador, China is the second developing country who has hosted Olympic Games, which is a inspiration to Africa that the day will come when the continent can proudly host Olympic Games. The 2010 FIFA World Cup will be a big step toward the goal. During the Beijing Olympics, with the support on international travel, accommodation and transport from Beijing Organizing Committee, best athletes from all African countries finally had the chance to participate and achieved encouraging results, which is a reflection of the theme of Beijing Olympics, “One World, One Dream”.

Answering the question on the progress of the investigation on the murder of Ms. Jiang Chongyu, a Chinese aid worker, Amb. Zhou said he respects the Judicial system of Liberia and appreciates the special care given to the case from the Liberian side, especially from H.E. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. But the slow pace of the investigation and trial of the suspect is adding further sorrow to the family and relatives of the deceased and he himself also feels ashamed for being unable to accelerate the process. According to him, the delay in the trial is doing harm to the image of Liberia and is discouraging more aid workers and investors from coming to Liberia. A fast and just trial will be in the interest of Liberia.

Amb. Zhou also rejected the idea of China-US Competition in Liberia and Africa, terming the idea as obsolete. In the era of globalization, all countries are interdependent and should support each other. China got immense help from the whole world, including African countries when it suffered the Wenchuan Earthquake, which further encourages China to do what it could to help other countries when needed. China’s aid to Liberia and Africa comes from friendship and the pursuit of win-win cooperation, rather the competition of interest. China respects the efforts of U.S. and other countries in the reconstruction and development of Liberia and is willing to cooperate with them for the benefit of the Liberian people. This is clearly demonstrated in the cooperation between China and the U.S. in the renovation and expansion of Fendell Campus of the University of Liberia.

Giving details on China’s assistance to Liberia, Amb. Zhou said, Compared to some developed countries, China’s aid is relatively small in sum. But China fully respects the needs of the recipient countries and is resolute in doing what it has promised. Unlike other donors bulk of whose assistance goes to administration and salaries, China can guarantee that vast majority of its assistance goes to the projects. That is the reason why African people regard China as their real friends.

Amb. Zhou emphasized that China is doing much on human resources training for Liberia. Besides hundreds of professional going to China for training each year, Chinese hybrid rice experts and bamboo and rattan weaving trainers are currently teaching in Liberia and more agricultural experts will come once the China-aided Agricultural Technology Demonstration Center in CARI is completed. At the same time, the Chinese engineering teams in Liberia are also carrying out on-the-job training for local workers, many of whom have become most popular skilled workers in the labor market.